May 6th, 2010 | 
Author: Spring heralds the end of Truffle season and as the year grows closer to Summer, you could be forgiven for thinking that the culinary appeal of the Dordogne is somewhat diminished. Of course, you’d be wrong – as one season finishes, another begins.
If the idea of seeing the rich heritage sites of the department or the idyllic scenery of the rivers, valleys and gentle hills isn’t enough to get you on a French holiday to the area then maybe another foodie treat will be. It turns out that the Dordogne isn’t just famous for its fine fungi – it’s also well known for its strawberries.
Starting this week, the Dordogne’s towns and village markets will be dominated by the Fete de La Fraise – in other words, the “festival of the strawberry”. Throughout May the region’s historic medieval marketplaces will be dominated by the scarlet red of the beloved fruit, with stalls laden with baskets of fresh produce sitting alongside offerings of seasonal cuisine.
From simple strawberries and cream to pies, tarts and cakes, these French festivals will offer some stiff competition for the iconic English summertime dish. Visitors should keep an eye out for local variations on the Eton Mess – or for the annual attempts at the title of “World’s largest strawberry tart.”
The current holder of this proud title is the town of Beaulie-Sur-Dordogne, whose own Fete de la Fraise takes place this weekend on the 9th of May.
Still, the competition is fierce in the region; last year in Vergt, organisers managed to construct a tart that measured a staggering four metres in circumference and used nearly 240kg of strawberries. Cleverly, each segment or ‘slice’ of the pie used fruit from different areas of the Dordogne, offering a taste of the different varieties found in the local fields.
This year Vergt’s strawberry festival will take place on the 16th of May. Many other towns will also be hosting their own markets and festivals throughout the month.
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